Comparison
Breville Barista Express vs Bambino Plus
One puts the grinder in the machine, the other leaves it out and does the milk for you. Start with whether you want one appliance or two.
Our pick
Editor’s pick
Breville Bambino Plus
9.4/10
Buy this one with its own grinder if milk drinks are the point. Ready in three seconds, an automatic wand that textures the milk for you, and a grinder you choose and can replace on its own.
Around $490
The alternative
Breville Barista Express
9/10
Buy this one if you want the whole setup in one machine. A conical burr grinder doses straight into the portafilter, with a tamper built in and a manual wand for learning to steam.
Around $690
Side by side
| Breville Bambino Plus | Breville Barista Express | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ||
| Price | Around $490, plus a grinder | Around $690 |
| Grinder | ||
| Grinder | None: buy one separately | Conical burr, grind size dial |
| Heat-up | ||
| Heat-up | 3 seconds (ThermoJet) | Not stated on the listing |
| Brew temperature | ||
| Brew temperature | PID | PID |
| Pre-infusion | ||
| Pre-infusion | Low-pressure | Low-pressure |
| Steam wand | ||
| Steam wand | Automatic, adjustable temperature and texture | Manual |
| Portafilter | ||
| Portafilter | 54mm | 54mm, with an integrated tamper and dose trimming tool |
| Water tank / beans | ||
| Water tank / beans | Not stated on the listing | 67oz tank, half-pound hopper |
| Width | ||
| Width | 7.7in | Not stated on the listing |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty | 2 years, limited | 1 year, limited |
The Express wins on what’s in the box, the Bambino Plus on speed, milk and warranty. Price the Plus with a grinder before comparing the totals.
Buy the Bambino Plus if…
- Lattes and cappuccinos are most of what you drink
- You want the machine ready in three seconds
- You’d like to upgrade the grinder later without replacing the machine
- Counter width is tight: it’s 7.7 inches
Buy the Barista Express if…
- You want one machine, grinder included
- You want to learn to steam milk by hand
- You’d rather not shop for a grinder at all
- You want the integrated tamper and dose trimming tool
How the Bambino Plus and the Barista Express differ
The Barista Express puts the grinder in the machine; the Bambino Plus leaves it out. Everything else on this page follows from that, so start there: do you want one appliance, or an espresso machine and a grinder side by side?
One appliance is the Express’s case. Its conical burr grinder doses straight into the portafilter from a half-pound hopper, a tamper is built in, and the Razor tool trims the dose level. The steam wand is manual, so milk is a skill you learn. Breville’s listing doesn’t give a heat-up time, and it carries a one-year warranty.
The Bambino Plus is the faster, simpler machine: three seconds to temperature, an automatic wand that textures the milk and stops on its own, and 7.7 inches of counter, with a two-year warranty. What it needs is a grinder beside it, and that is also its advantage: you choose the grinder, and when you want a better one you replace it without replacing the espresso machine. On its own it costs $200 less than the Express, which is roughly what a good espresso grinder costs.
For most first-time buyers who drink lattes, the Bambino Plus and a grinder is the better pair. If one machine on the counter matters more, or you want to learn to steam, the Express.
A grinder for the Bambino Plus
Pair it with a burr grinder that goes fine enough for espresso; the matched pairs and their totals are in the combos guide.
Common questions
Which is better, the Breville Bambino Plus or the Barista Express?
For most first-time buyers who drink milk drinks, the Breville Bambino Plus with a separate espresso grinder: it heats in three seconds, froths the milk automatically, has a two-year warranty, and the grinder can be upgraded on its own. The Breville Barista Express is better if you want everything in one machine, grinder and tamper included, and want to learn to steam milk by hand.
What’s the difference between the Barista Express and the Bambino Plus?
The Barista Express has a built-in conical burr grinder, an integrated tamper and a manual steam wand. The Bambino Plus has no grinder, an automatic steam wand, three-second ThermoJet heating and a two-year warranty to the Express’s one. Both have PID temperature control, low-pressure pre-infusion and a 54mm portafilter.
Is the Barista Express worth it over the Bambino Plus?
It is if you want one machine and would rather not buy a grinder separately: the Barista Express grinds, doses and tamps in one body. If you drink lattes and want the milk done for you, the Bambino Plus with its own grinder costs about the same and is the easier machine to live with.
Do the Bambino Plus and the Barista Express use the same accessories?
Yes. The Breville Bambino Plus and the Barista Express both take Breville’s 54mm portafilter and baskets, so the same 53.3mm tamper, 53.3mm puck screen and 54mm bottomless portafilter fit both. They’re in our Bambino accessories guide.
Do I need a grinder for the Bambino Plus or the Barista Express?
For the Bambino Plus, yes: it has no grinder, so pair it with a burr grinder made for espresso or buy pre-ground espresso coffee. The Barista Express has a conical burr grinder built in.
Neither one?
For the all-in-one that does the dosing and tamping for you, see Ninja Luxe Café vs Breville Barista Express. If the Bambino Plus is too much, Bambino vs Bambino Plus covers the cheaper one.